Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator

Description

The students of Creation Village World School deserve an incomparable educational experience, through Creation Village's holistic program that develops each child in mind, body, and spirit through experiential learning, creating exceptional opportunities for life.

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator is a member of the Pedagogical Leadership Team of the school (PLT) and facilitates the ongoing development and implementation of a well-articulated, cohesive and balanced academic programme in Preschool and Primary that reflects the  Creation Village World School (CVWS) mission, core values and learning outcomes, the IB PYP framework, and learning and teaching best practices in ongoing collaboration with the Head of the Primary Years Programme and the Dean of Preschool. 

This position reports to the Head of the Primary Years Programme with the following duties and responsibilities:

Missional responsibilities

• Model the core values of CVWS in the classroom and school
• Demonstrate and live CREATION Health in the classroom, guiding students as they develop in each principle
• Develop students through the International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy and mission

Communication and relationships within the school community 

• Establish constructive relationships based on CREATION Life and the IB Learner Profile attributes within the school community to encourage the CVWS culture of service.
• Communicate effectively with the school community to provide support and guidance in achieving the aims of the school (including faculty, parents, and student meetings).
• Demonstrate a commitment to collaboration and cooperative working, developing respectful, supportive and constructive relationships within the school community. 
• Publish the school programme of inquiry and articles pertaining to the programme in the school webpage and in the school social media.  

Teaching and learning 

• Serve as the pedagogical leader of the PYP
• Facilitate workshops and provide other professional development opportunities for teachers including orientation and training to new faculty. 
• Ensure that the implementation of the PYP is systematically monitored, reinforced and revised as necessary.
• Create a culture of lifelong learning, supporting teachers in the development and implementation of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) 
• Serve as a consultant to teachers in matters of inquiry and play- based pedagogy, differentiation, approaches to learning and approaches to teaching to enhance student learning (this may include modeling some strategies)
• Stay abreast of the latest research of "best teaching practices" and shares this information with teachers
• Attend collaborative and planning meetings on a regular basis 
• Establish and maintains a record of completed planners and all written curriculum 
• Lead the process of developing or revising PYP curriculum documents, including subject area scope and sequence documents and school policies. 
• Create a work plan and timeline for the completion of the PYP Exhibition in collaboration with the 5th grade teacher and the Head of the Primary Years Programme
• Manage the PYP Library, creating a learning environment rich in research and functioning as a shared classroom and makerspace.
• Make recommendations for the purchase of suitable resources to assist the teaching of the programmes
• Observe lessons to monitor the use of teaching strategies and the implementation of the PYP curriculum and provides feedback and suggestions. 
• Assist teachers organizing meaningful field trips to enhance the units of inquiry
• Maintain contact with guest speakers as a source of expertise for teachers and children

Assessment and data collection

• Assist teachers in the creation of assessments strategies and tools for formative and summative assessments. 
• Assist teachers with samples of student work, portfolios, process journals and self-assessment documents. 
• In collaboration with the Head of the Primary Years Programme work with teachers to analyze assessments tools and modify as needed. This includes (but is not limited to) formative and summative assessments, reading assessments, MAP tests.
• In collaboration with teachers and the Head of the Primary Years Programme organize the three-way conferences (parents,-students and teachers)  
• Support the implementation of the assessment policy, assessment and reporting of the curriculum
• Organize the end of the unit celebrations of learning in collaboration with teachers and the Head of the Primary Years Programme. 

Programme Administration

• Act as the liaison between the school and the IB.
• Leads the school through the five-year PYP evaluation process
• Prepare and submit any documentation required for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) evaluation 
• Communicate with the IB office and the IB person responsible for the school when necessary
• Lead the process of the development and revision of the schools Programme of Inquiry so that it is vertically and horizontally articulated and is available for parents, teachers and students in either written or electronic form.
• Shares responsibility with other program coordinators (e.g. MYP Coordinator) for the horizontal and vertical articulation of the IB programs school wide
• Be familiar with and promote understanding and use of all the Primary Years Programme (PYP) documents
• Ensure that online IB resources are regularly shared with faculty. Promote and monitor the use of My IB 
• Keep an up- to date record of workshops and school visits attended by staff in order to achieve equality of opportunity and to identify on-going needs
• Make recommendations to the Head of Primary Years Programme  regarding further training of staff in or off-campus courses, ensuring identified needs and IB requirements are met
• In collaboration with the Head of the Primary Years Programme organize the logistics of official PYP training in school according to IB requirements.
• Meet regularly with the Head of the Primary Years Programme to discuss the implementation of the programme. 
• Evaluate their own performance through self-reflection and be committed to improving practice through appropriate professional development, research and reading.
• Upon request assist the Head of the Primary Years Programme creating teaching schedules and duty rosters.
• Hold a constructive and positive approach towards innovation; being prepared to adapt practice, in line with the school development plan and school initiatives 

Other 

• Fulfill other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Head of the Primary Years Programme and the Head of School.
• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Requirements

Competencies

1. Excellent interpersonal skills
2. Child focused - warm, caring and supportive
3. Ability to work effectively with teams
4. Excellent oral and written communications skills 
5. A passion for teaching and learning
6. Willingness to work for the good of the entire school community
7. Flexible and adaptable 

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in Education or a closely related field
2. Minimum of five years experience as a PYP teacher
3. Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work collaboratively with all stakeholders in the school community
4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in English
5. Extensive experience with inquiry-based and transdisciplinary learning
6. Experience writing and planning a curriculum
7. Experience participating in a PYP authorization and evaluation  processes. 

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience as a PYP Coordinator
2. IBEN Member with experience serving as a PYP workshop leader and site visitor.